Frisco Leaders Put Off Water Restrictions Vote

FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) – The Frisco City Council held off on a vote over increased water restrictions Tuesday night, after council members expressed concerns.

The North Texas Municipal Water District has asked its 13 member cities to adopt the same rules, limiting homeowners to watering their lawns once every other week.

All but three cities, Frisco, Mckinney, and Princeton, are already complying with the request.

The city of Frisco’s public works department officially recommended doing so, as well.

The same department, though, sent a memo to city council with arguments against the change.

The memo warned it “could actually increase water usage” because homeowners might overcompensate for a lack of watering days. It also expressed concerns about lower water pressure, impaired firefighting capabilities, lower disinfectant levels in the water, and confusion in the community.

City council members echoed those concerns.

“When you come in and say we’re going to have to let our yards grow, I’m offended, because it’s not about my yard or my grass. My concern is when you tell people ‘every two weeks’, our consumption is going to go up,” said Council Member Bob Allen.

The NTMWD said cities with the restriction already in place have not had issues.

After more than an hour of debate, the council voted to table the issue, postponing further discussion.

Council members noted Frisco has exceeded water conservation goals, reducing usage by more than 30% since last year.